Karnataka gets NHRC notice over vacant school seats

Taking note of seats reserved for poor students lying vacant in Karnataka schools, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Friday issued notice to the state government.

Accusing Karnataka of poorly implementing the Right to Education Act, the NHRC has sought a reply from the state's chief secretary within four weeks.

"We have taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that 37,000 seats guaranteed for poor students were lying vacant in the schools of Karnataka due to poor implementation of Right to Education," said the NHRC.

"The contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the Right to Education of the children belonging to weaker sections," it added.

The seats are lying vacant as the children from weaker sections are reportedly being subjected to discrimination, it said.